Chocolate Muffins with Molten Center

Well, this was not suppose to be a day for making but I accidentally dropped the egg carton after grocery shopping so had to do something with the broken eggs, hence the production of these muffins! But it turned out not too bad actually, although I think I would have like it if I added a little more chocolate in the center for the molten finish.

Ingredients
1/2 cup self-rising flour (sifted)
4 tablespoons of softened margarine
1/2 cup fine white sugar
1 egg, 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon unsweetend cocoa powder
1/2 a bar of milk chocolate, broken into 8 pieces
1 tablespoon of hazelnut liquour (optional)
Icing Sugar

Method
1. Preheat oven to 180 degree celcius.
2. Cream the margarine and sugar until they are well blended.
3. Add in the eggs, flour, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and liquour and beat together until mixture is smooth.
4. Spoon half of the batter into your muffin holders.
5. Make a small indentation in the middle of the batter and place the piece of chocolate in the middle.
6. Spoon the remaining batter into the holders, making sure you cover the chocolate pieces.
7. Bake the muffins in the preheated oven for 15 mins or until it has risen.
8. Leave the muffins out to cool for 3-5 minutes before dusting on the icing sugar on top.

This is best served warm and one recipe makes about 8 medium size muffins! Enjoy! :)

Orange Rind Cupcakes

It has been a long time since the last post, busy with the new baby plus the other 2 boys, driving me up the wall! Anyway, just wanted to whip up something simple for tea so here's a receipe for a small batch of 6 medium cupcakes!

Ingredients
5/8 cup self-rising flour (sifted)
6 tablespoons of softened butter
3/8 cup fine white sugar
1 egg, 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 grated rind and juice of medium size orange

Method (cupcake)
1. Preheat oven to 180 degree celcius.
2. Cream butter and sugar together using the low speed. When butter is creamy and a shade lighter, it is done.
3. Slowly beat in the eggs, vanilla essence and sifted flour. Cream the mixture well after each addition. (this is so that it will not curdle)
4. Add in 1/2 of the orange juice and grated rind and beat well.
5. Fill cupcake cups (you should be able to fill around 6-8) with the batter until they are about 3/4 full.
6. Bake in the oven for approximately 20 mins or when soft and fluffy.
7. Take it out and spoon on the warm syrup topping before serving.

Ingredients (Topping)
1/2 grated rind and juice of medium size orange
1/4 cup fine white sugar

Method (topping)
1. Put the remaining rind, juice and sugar in a pan and heat gently, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Let it simmer for 5 minutes or when the syrup is slightly brown. 

Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese

Had a craving this week so thought I will try my hand at this...taste was not too bad but I felt it could be more chocolatey (I love chocolate!)

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour and 2 tablespoons corn flour (sifted) OR 2 1/2 cups cake flour (sifted)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
4 tablespoons red food colouring
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar (white)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon white vinegar / white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

Method (cupcake)
1. Preheat oven to 180 degree celcius.
2. Cream butter and sugar together using the low speed. When butter is creamy and a shade lighter, it is done.
3. In a seperate bowl, mix food colouring and cocoa powder to form a thin paste.
4. Slowly add beaten eggs, vanilla essence and cocoa mix a bit at a time. Cream the mixture well after each addition. (this is so that it will not curdle)
5. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder and salt. Add one third of the flour into the butter mixture and beat well.
6. Add in half of the buttermilk and beat well. Beat in another third of the flour mixture, then the remaining half of the buttermilkd. Finish off the last third of flour mixture and mix well.
7.In a seperate bowl, mix vinegar and baking soda. Add the vinegar mixture into the cake batter and stir well to combine.
8. Fill cupcake cups (you should be able to fill around 20) with the batter until they are about 3/4 full.
9. Bake in the oven for approximately 20 mins.
10. Take it out and set it aside to cool before piping on cream cheese.

Frosting
1 cup Philadelphia cream cheese
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups icing sugar (sifted)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Method
1. Cream together butter and cheese until fluffy. Add in sugar and vanilla essence and cream it until well blended.
2. When done, pipe cream cheese onto cooled cupcake.

Barbeque Ribs!

Have tried out various receipes previously and I find that this one still tastes best!

Preparation time is around 15mins. Cooking time is approximately 2.5 hours.

Serving size is 2.

Ingredients
1kg pork ribs
1 tablespoon garlic powder (or 1 teaspoon chopped garlic!)
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper
1 tablespoon Worchester Sauce
8 tablespoons barbeque sauce
1 teaspoon chopped onion

Method
1. After defrosting, place ribs in a large pot and cover it with hot water. Add in garlic powder, salt and pepper and bring it to boil.
2. Cook the ribs until tender, roughly around 30-45mins.
3. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees celcius.
4. In a bowl, mix together the worchester, barbeque sauce and chopped onion.
5. Place the ribs on a lined baking tray and pour the sauce mixture over it, making sure that all areas are covered with the sauce. Placing the meaty portion facedown so that it sits in the remaining sauce, cover with aluminium foil and bake in oven for 1hr 30mins.
6. Remove the aluminium foil and turn the meat until the bone portion sits at the base of the tray. Bake for another 30 mins to brown it. You may add additional Barbeque sauce after 15 mins to add more flavour to the meat.

And it is ready! :)

Beef with Ginger and Scallions

I like the simplicity of this dish, and the little preparation needed for a good taste!


Preparation Time is 2mins, cooking time around 5mins.

Serving Size: 3 pax

Ingredients
300grams sliced beef
1 1/2 tablespoon soya sauce
1 teaspoon corn flour
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon oil
2 stalks scallion, chopped
Some thinly sliced ginger
1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
salt and pepper (to taste)

Method
1. Marinate beef in soya sauce, corn flour and sesame oil for 30mins.
2. In a pan, heat the oil until smoking hot and fry garlic and ginger for 1-2 mins.
3. Add in the scallion and marinated beef and stir-fry for another 2-3 mins or when beef is brown.
4. Season with salt and pepper.

Isn't the simplicity of it astounding?

Spicy Chilli Prawns

Have always like the sauce of chilli crabs so thought I'll try some on prawns!

(pictures pending until I cook them!)

Preparation time is around 5mins, cooking time is around 15mins.

Serving size: 3-4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Oil

1 teaspoon minced Garlic

1/2 teaspoon chopped Onions

2 tablespoons Chilli Sauce (I like to use the sinsin brand's extra hot chilli sauce)

4 tablespoons Tomato Sauce

400g Prawns

1 Egg

1 teaspoon Corn Flour

1/4 cup water

1/4 Lemon wedge (for the juice)

1/2 teaspoon Chilli Flakes (optional)

Method

1. Mix the chilli and tomato sauce, corn flour, lemon and water in a bowl.

2. Heat up the oil and add the garlic and onions, stir-frying it for about a minute.

3. Add in the prawns and fry until they turn orange.

4. Add in the sauce mix and bring it to a boil. Add in the chilli flakes for a spicier flavour!

5. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the egg. Pour the egg into the pan and stir it until the egg is well mixed and cooked.

Remove and you're ready to eat! Goes well with bread to mop up the sauce! :)

Baked Brie with Caramalised Apple

I like to use this as an appetizer with crackers when guests are over. Goes well with white wine too if you're looking for something fancy!

(picture pending the next time guests are over!)

Ingredients

Brie

2 apples, cut up into bite-size pieces

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Some chopped walnuts (optional)

Some raisins (optional)

Methods

1. Mix the apples, sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl.

2. Place it in the oven at 175 degrees Celsius to bake for 15mins to soften it then take it out.

3. Place the brie on a tray and pour the apple mixture over it.

4. Bake it for another 15-20 mins.

And you're ready to eat! Tell me how it goes!